Fyi Miami

‘VICE’ PATROL: Real-life police officers will continue to reap benefits from crime in the film world. One night of car-chase shoots this month on Interstate 95 for "Miami Vice" was rained out, so up to 70 off-duty officers from the Miami Police Department will be hired again next week for a second attempt. The southbound lanes of I-95 are to be closed 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Wednesday (8/3) from Interstate 395 to State Road 836 South toward the Rickenbacker Causeway.

BUILDING THE BRAND: Miami-based Perry Ellis International Inc. last week announced licensing agreements in Canada and the South Pacific. Cardinal Clothing Canada Inc. is to manufacture and distribute in Canada men’s topcoats under Perry Ellis brands. South Pacific Apparel Pty Ltd. is to manufacture and distribute men’s and boys’ trousers and shorts in Australia, New Zealand and other islands.

PAPER TIGER: DadePaper of Miami announced its fourth acquisition in the past year, Gulf Paper Supply Inc. in Fort Walton Beach. The paper-products supplier was formed here 66 years ago.

AIRPORT FREIGHT SOARS: Miami International Airport handles more international freight than any other US airport, a report by a Swiss aviation research company shows. Last year, 1.6 million tons of freight passed through Miami – up 11% from 2003, Geneva-based Airports Council International reported. The airport retained the fourth position for overall freight traffic and third spot for cargo – freight and mail combined. Only two airports outranked Miami International in international passenger traffic last year, when 30.2 million people passed through.

SMART GROWTH: North Miami Beach is to hold the last workshop on its Smart Growth NMB program Aug. 10. Three workshops have helped planners envision the city’s future. The city is to get a final report from the advisory committee at the end of August. The 6 p.m. meeting is at City Hall’s McDonald Center, 17051 NE 19th Ave.

WIRELESS BEACH: Miami Beach plans to request proposals in August for a citywide wireless broadband network, to be operating in mid-2006. It’s to allow free public access to high-speed Internet in hot spots throughout the city as well as create a citywide wireless broadband network with mobile connectivity for police, firefighters, building inspectors, parking officers, public works employees and other city workers.

GETTING AROUND: Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez opened a satellite office last weekend at 1309-A SW 107th Ave. He has another satellite office in the South Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211th St. His main office is downtown. "Every month I will spend time in each of my offices," he said in a statement, "so I can hear firsthand the community’s most pressing issues."

FULFILLING DEAL: Wachovia has leased 40,927 square feet in Doral Concourse, 8400 Doral Blvd., and Humana has taken 16,046. The bank plans December occupancy, Humana targets November. Jacksonville-based Flagler Development Co. purchased the 240,144-square-foot Class A building in February for $41 million from VEF Advisors when it had 66% occupancy. The new leases will bring it to 90%.

BREEZING TO OK: Miami’s Planning Advisory Board last week recommended approval of a major-use special permit for Brisas del Rio development, 1583 NW 24th St. The mixed-use project includes three towers ranging from 177 feet to 247 feet tall with 698 multifamily residential units, about 2,200 square feet of retail space and 1,158 parking spaces. City commissioners are expected to review the project in September.

CAVIAR COMING: A German caviar company is bringing its US headquarters and at least 55 jobs to Miami-Dade County. Caviar Creator of Demmin plans to build an aquaculture plant and administrative offices in the north part of the county at a site not yet announced. The company plans to employ up to 40 people in its plant and at least 15 in distribution and marketing at a $15 million 160,000-square-foot facility. The company is dealing with Michael Capponi, owner of Casa Casuarina in Miami Beach, to open a caviar lounge in September. Details: www.caviar-creator.com.

GRANADA TO GABLES: A delegation from Granada, Spain, is to visit Coral Gables Oct. 3-5 as part of the Sister Cities program. The mission is scheduled to include 25 representatives of hospitality and education businesses to meet with city officials, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce members and University of Miami staff. The trip is in response to a Coral Gables mission last year to the south of Spain.

HIALEAH BUY: Hialeah Condominium Holdings has purchased 84,000 square feet of office space at 900 W 49th St., Hialeah, for $8.5 million. The sale of the property, in the Bank of America building that houses the Florida School of Real Estate, closed July 13. NAI Miami represented vendor 900 W. 49th St. Ltd. in the transaction.

DESIGN DISTRICT TOWER: The City of Miami Urban Development Review Board last week approved plans for Tiziano, a 15-story residential development at 53 NE 41st St. in Miami’s Design District, with recommendations for changes and improvements in landscaping and suggestions for additional ground-level retail stores. Plans include 45 residential units and a four-story parking garage.

GRANT OPENS DOORS: The Historical Museum of Southern Florida in Miami is one of three institutions statewide to win an award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The museum is to receive $150,000 – the largest amount awarded in the program. In the latest round of grant funding, more than 500 museums applied, and 169 were successful. The historical museum has earmarked the funds to improve public access to its archives and object collections.

DEVELOPMENTS MOVE AHEAD: The Miami Urban Development Review Board last week approved Class II special development permits for Arquitectonica Design Studios for development of a three-corner site at 3300 Rice St. in Coconut Grove, the Lafayette Square affordable-housing development at Northeast 79th Street and First Avenue, and Villa Patricia, 234-242 NE 79th St. It approved major-use special permits for The Boulevard, 238-274 NE 34th St., and The Roads at 18th, 1840-1860 SW Third Ave.

CLARION SWEETS: The Clarion Hotel & Suites, 100 SE Fourth St., Miami, is to get new management and a $1 million renovation. Tecton Hospitality, a Miami management-services provider, is to manage the 149-room hotel. Renovation, due to be done in December, includes new carpeting, furniture and fixtures. The hotel is to stay open during renovations.

BUDDING EXPORTERS: Agribusiness professionals will have an opportunity to learn how to expand foreign sales at a series of seminars at Miami Dade College and could qualify for rebates of half the marketing costs associated with foreign sales. The college is to run a free seven-session course starting in early 2006 to include seminars on export financing, customer location and market research. Dates aren’t set. Students could receive half of qualified promotional expenses, up to $250,000, that the New Orleans-based Southern US Trade Association can underwrite for small exporters. Details: Steve Colyer, (305) 237-7490.